Boston Irish Tourism Association - Press Advisory March 2023

February 18, 2023
irishmassachusetts@comcast.net

BITA PROMOTES ST. PATRICK’S DAY AND IRISH HERITAGE
MONTH IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW ENGLAND

(BOSTON) -- As New England prepares to welcome St. Patrick’s Day and Irish Heritage Month throughout March 2023, the Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) has compiled a selection of fun, entertaining and educational ways to celebrate the region’s robust Irish community, from concerts, dances, exhibits and lectures to parades, heritage tours, road races and cultural events.

The most popular annual celebrations, and a rite of spring in New England, are the St. Patrick’s Day parades taking place in a dozen cities and towns between March 11 and March 19, 2023. Parades on Cape Cod and Newport kick off the marching season on Saturday, March 11, and Holyoke, Scituate and Boston finish up on Sunday, March 19.

Throughout March, touring musicians, singers and dancers perform at concert halls and cultural venues, while exhibits and lectures are slated at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis, Cape Cod and the Heritage State Park in Lawrence.

According to the US Census, New England has the most residents claiming Irish ancestry in the United States by percentage. New Hampshire is the leading state, with 20.2% of all residents designated as Irish, with Massachusetts a close second with 19.8% of residents. Closing out the top five are Rhode Island (17.6%), Vermont (17.0%) and Maine (16.6%).

ABOUT BOSTON IRISH TOURISM ASSOCIATION

The Boston Irish Tourism Association (BITA) was formed in 2000 to market the region’s vibrant Irish-American community, especially its culture, heritage, and small businesses. BITA issues three issues of Travel & Culture magazine in March, June + November, distributed free at visitor centers, cultural venues and local museums. BITA also promotes travel to the island of Ireland year round.

2023 ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADES

Cape Cod, MA/ Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m.
Newport, RI/ Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m.
Hartford, CT/ Saturday, March 11 at 11 a.m.
W. Warwick, RI/ Sunday, March 12 at 1 p.m.
New Haven, CT/ Sunday, March 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Worcester, MA/ Sunday, March 12 at Noon
Providence, RI/ Saturday, March 18 at Noon
Abington, MA/ Sunday, March 19 at 1 p.m.
Boston, MA/ Sunday, March 19 at 1 p.m.
Holyoke, MA/ Sunday, March 19 at 11:10 a.m.
Scituate, MA/ Sunday, March 19 at 1 p.m.
Manchester, NH/ Sunday, March 19 at Noon

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IRISH HERITAGE TRAILS

Massachusetts has two educational and illuminating ways to explore the Commonwealth’s illustrious Irish history.

The Boston Irish Heritage Trail, created in 1994 and covering 300+ years of the city’s Irish history, connects 20 landmarks into a 3-mile walking tour, from Boston’s waterfront through downtown and Back Bay into the Fens. An addition 20 sites in the city’s neighborhoods - from Charlestown and South Boston to Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, depict the Boston Irish role throughout the entire city.

The South Shore Irish Heritage Trail, created in 2022, is a fascinating journey into the history and heritage through nine scenic cities and towns along Boston’s South Shore. The SSIHT takes you to dozens of landmarks, museums, public parks and cultural venues where the contributions of local Irish and Irish-Americans is fully on display.

CONCERTS AND PERFORMING ARTS

So many world-renowned Irish and Celtic musicians, singers and dancers pass through greater Boston and New England during St. Patrick’s Day season, often on national and international tours. Marquee performers coming to New England in March 2023 include Altan, Lúnasa with Daoirí Farrell, Green Road with Clodagh Kinsella, Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, Eileen Ivers, the Seamus Egan Project and Open the Door for Three.

And the region’s top singers, dancers and musicians performing in March are Áine Minogue, Rose Clancy, Celtic Sojourn, Celtic Bells, Connacht Band, Michael O’Leary, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Silver Spears Irish Show Band, Erin's Melody, Strawberry Hill, Sheaf Bridge, and traditional musicians - Colm Gannon, Joey Abarta, Patrick Bowling, Nathan Gourley, Adam Hendy, Niamh Healy, Aoife Griffin and David Healy, along with dance schools including Jackie O Riley, Greene O Leary, O'Shea Chaplin, Liam Harney, Pender-Keady and more. Details at: irishmassachusetts.com/march.php

LECTURES AND EXHIBITS

Lawrence State Heritage Park has an exhibit, “Dublin 1916: A Look Back in Time” on display between March 5-28, and various author lectures, part of the AOH Lawrence Irish Heritage Month. The JFK Library in Boston and the JFK Museum in Hyannis, Cape Cod, have a number of exhibits on President John F. Kennedy, his family and his presidency as well as lectures and community events.

ROAD RACES

Put on your shamrock gloves and hat and take part in one of several Irish-themed road races taking place in South Boston, Lawrence, Holyoke, Marshfield, Plymouth and other parts of Massachusetts.

TRAVEL & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Pick up your free copy of the Spring 2023 issue of Travel & Culture magazine, which is released the first week of March and distributed at visitor kiosks and cultural venues. The magazine is also available to read online at irishmassachusetts.com.

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